MASSACRE STORY

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32215, 6 February 1970, Page 13

MASSACRE STORY

Ministerial Statement (I N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) LONDON, February 5. The British Minister of Defence (Mr Denis Healy) has promised that he will look into allegations of a massacre by British troops in Malaya 21 years ago, and decide whether to refer the: matter to the Director of I Public Prosecutions. The Minister’s pledge was made in the House of Commons in response to questions by members about allegations made in the Sunday newspaper, the “People,” which reported that British troops shot down, in cold blood, 25 suspected Communist guerrillas in Selangor in December, 1948. “The incident was investigated by military and civil authorities in Malaya at the time,” said Mr Healy. “So far as is known, no report was received by the War Office from either source of any criminal conduct on the part of the British troops who took part. “However, since these allegations have been made, I am treating the matter with concern and urgency. . . . The question of whether there should be criminal proceedings is not now a matter on which the Army has any jurisdiction, and I have therefor called for such documents relating to*the original investigations as may still be available and to other material arising out of the present allegations.” ,